Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

Interprofessional Collaboration on Behalf of Older Persons with CompromisedDecisional Capacity: Defining and Developing Core Professional CompetenciesMarshall B. Kapp, Florida State University (marshall.kapp@med.fsu.edu)Issues arise with some frequency concerning the cognitive and emotional ability of an olderindividual to make certain legally significant decisions for him or herself. In confronting theseissues, the professional involvement of both attorneys and physicians (and other health careprofessionals) may be needed: the attorney as the legal representative of the older individual orsome other party who is interacting with that individual, and the physician as a provider offactual information, an expert opinion, or some sort of case management for the older individual.The individual with compromised capacity, as well as others who are engaging in some kind offinancial or personal relationship with that party, ordinarily are best served by effectiveinterprofessional collaboration among members of the different involved professions. However,the level of interprofessional collaboration encountered in dealing with the legal issues that arisewhen the decisional capacity of an older client/patient is questioned often leaves much to bedesired. This presentation will define and suggest strategies for developing, through innovationsin medical and legal education, core competencies for physicians and attorneys that are essentialto improving the level of interprofessional collaboration on behalf of older individuals whosecognitive and emotional condition purportedly compromises their capacity to make certainlegally significant decisions.A Reconfiguration of Interprofessional Collaboration for Specific RetireePopulations: Successful People with Mental and Education-Related DisabilitiesAlison Barnes, Marquette University (alison.barnes@mu.edu)The future of mental illness and personal decision making will unfold in a culture in thedeveloped world with two newly vocal groups of people with mental disabilities. One groupincludes highly effective and intelligent people with chronic mental illness who neverthelessfound the strength to conduct challenging lives and full relationships. Most have spent time “inthe (mental illness) closet” to avoid stigma and virtually inevitable limiting expectationsregarding their capabilities. A growing number have decided to reveal their conditions andstruggles. A second group includes people now in preretirement who were recognized andaccommodated from primary through higher education. Many group members are likely to assertclaims for assistance to maintain their health care and lifestyle choices in spite of the physicaland mental losses that may attend old age. How these expectations might be treated is a topic fordiscussion by scholars and policymakers who wish to give individuals fair and effectiveprotection from discrimination and unwanted interference in their lives. This presentationacknowledges such claims and discusses how a new configuration of professionals might107